I visited the super-duper unbelievably amazing Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) today, in the mountains above the Golden Pavilion temple in northwestern Kyoto. It was my first visit since the photoshoot with John and Ai two years ago.
This time I went with Eric, Gigi, and Damien just to practice portraiture. Gigi wore a kimono she bought yesterday.
I can not begin to tell you how wonderful Haradanien is. When the blossoms are at their peak, such as now, it's 100× better than any other garden I know of, anywhere.
金閣寺の近く、原谷苑、は今メチャメチャメチャ美しいです。 行きにくい所ですが、今週はおすすめです。今日は全然満開でした!

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
I Can't Get Enough of These Blossoms

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Inviting

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
Engulfed

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Focusing Via Live View

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Posing for Her Husband

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Posing for Me

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Touching Base

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Easy Laugh
I wanted a different kind of shot of Gigi than Eric did... they tended toward the serious, “refined” look (easy to get with Gigi), but I wanted more levity and spontaneity, so those are the kind of shots I'll share here.
Well, except this one:

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 110 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Smile I Was Looking For

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Candid Moment

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
A Different Look

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
I Have No Idea
what the glove was for

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 125 — map & image data — nearby photos
Best Friends
that just met
Gigi was getting a bit tired, so never one to be shy, Eric approached a couple of ladies and asked whether they'd be interested in having us photograph them. They readily agreed.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 125 — map & image data — nearby photos
Joanne and Ting Ting
They had seemed like best friends, but it turns out that they'd just met each other earlier in the day, here at the garden. I was shocked at how easily they worked together and with us. They said that they weren't models, but they acted like what I imagine a pro model would act like. Super easy and enjoyable to work with.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Substitute Shooter
Gigi uses one of the girls' camera to shoot them

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Appreciating Gigi's Handiwork

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 125 — map & image data — nearby photos
Joanne
sort of inspired by this shot

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ting Ting

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Damien's Turn

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shooting Joanne

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shooting Both

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big Guns
Damien pulls out his Nikkor 200mm f/2

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 180 — map & image data — nearby photos
What They Were Shooting
It was a really fun time, on top of the feeling of accomplishment I have for having ridden my bicycle there (about 40 minutes, including at the end a short but killer 100m ascent over 1,000 meters distance).
It turns out that Joanne is leaving Kyoto today, but Ting Ting will be around for another week, so we may get a chance to meet again.
I enjoyed seeing these images, particularly the first one. This image invited me into the composition, asking me to complete in my imagination what was outside the frame.
oh… now you’re talking pretty, jeffrey.